What specific anatomical feature allows the woolly monkey's tail to function as a fully prehensile fifth limb?
Answer
A bare, tactile pad on the underside near the tip
The prehensile tail is one of the most specialized adaptations of the woolly monkey, essential for its existence high in the trees. Its capability to function as a fifth limb, enabling the monkey to support its entire body weight while reaching for food or navigating gaps, relies specifically on the presence of a bare, tactile pad located on the underside toward the tip. This pad significantly enhances friction and sensitivity, allowing for an incredibly strong and secure grip on branches. Although the tail's overall length contributes to its utility as a counterbalance and anchor, the tactile pad is the critical element providing the necessary grip surface.
Related Questions
What does the Greek origin of the genus name *Lagothrix* suggest about woolly monkeys?What specific anatomical feature allows the woolly monkey's tail to function as a fully prehensile fifth limb?What term classifies the woolly monkey based on its primary nutritional requirement being ripe fruit?What is the conservation status frequently assigned to several woolly monkey species by conservation bodies?What is the fundamental trade-off presented when woolly monkey troops forage in larger groups?What is the critical reason why habitat destruction poses a greater long-term threat than just the immediate loss of trees?Up to what approximate elevation do some woolly monkey populations inhabit humid montane forests in South America?What specific percentage of a woolly monkey's intake is typically composed of fruit pulp and seeds?Which country is explicitly listed among the nations encompassing the geographic range of the woolly monkey?What is the key consequence of the woolly monkey's heavy fruit consumption for the wider forest ecosystem?